Organic Waste

dasickle

Posted 19 February 2012 - 03:11 PM

dasickle

Nano Reefer

Members

19 posts

Joined 22 Aug 2011

Hello,

I setup a 3g pico tank about a year ago and I am very happy with the way everything is going so far except for one thing. I can not get rid of the white film on the surface of the tank which I assume is the byproduct of organic waste. All my corals are doing great and growing fast. I add about 1 coral a month and so far my tank has 2 small zoa's, 3 mushroom colonies, 1 leather coral, 2 small turbo snails, 1 hermit crab, bali starfish and no fish. So I dont think that I am overloading the tank.

I do regular water changes (1g/every 3-4 days), change my filter media every 2 weeks. I also started using active carbon which I hope will help with the issue. I have my powerhead directed at the surface. So I think I am doing everything right and yet I am still having the issue. I know that some might people think adding a skimmer is the solution but wouldn't it be an overkill for a 3g tank? Wont it take out all of the minerals from the water? Any ideas?

dasickle

Posted 19 February 2012 - 04:39 PM

dasickle

Nano Reefer

Members

19 posts

Joined 22 Aug 2011

I have aquaclear20 filter. I took out the media it came with and replaced it with mesh bag of active carbon from marineland and some fine filter media. I also have about 12 pounds of LR and about 2inch sandbed. Live sand came from a very established system.

altolamprologus

Posted 19 February 2012 - 04:47 PM

altolamprologus

Female reefer

Members

5,929 posts

Joined 21 Feb 2011

Bay Area, California

I have aquaclear20 filter. I took out the media it came with and replaced it with mesh bag of active carbon from marineland and some fine filter media. I also have about 12 pounds of LR and about 2inch sandbed. Live sand came from a very established system.

You can make your own surface skimmer if the film bugs you.

You're the type of man who passes by sports illustrated and grabs encyclopedia brittanica when you take a dump, huh?

dasickle

Posted 19 February 2012 - 05:50 PM

dasickle

Nano Reefer

Members

19 posts

Joined 22 Aug 2011

That's not a protein skimmer. It just takes the film off the surface. You can do it manually with paper towels, but that's kind of a PITA.

That is kind of what I have been doing and it makes the tank look better but its just a "cosmetic" solutions. I am looking for a way to get the organic waste filtered better so I dont have the film on the surface again.

Psychosis

Posted 19 February 2012 - 05:56 PM

Psychosis

Pragmatism > Minimalism

Members

6,270 posts

Joined 01 Mar 2008

Minot AFB, ND

Without adequate surface skimming and agitation that film will all ways be there. It's not just an organics issue, dust and other things of that nature collect at the surface. If you modify the aquaclear ( I've seen it done with large pill bottles) to have a surface skimmer, the problem should be solved.

^ It's now click-able. Awh yea.

Lawnman, on 31 Mar 2013 - 15:31, said:

Where is psycho at today? I need to read some of his awesome ramblings.